Chapter 8. The Foolish Princess
The emperor’s decision was delivered to the crown prince.
Crown Prince Seltor burst into laughter.
Ahntrus had accepted the emperor’s proposal.
‘There’s no way he’d refuse a royal command.’
Seltor smiled slyly and filled his glass with wine.
“Your Highness.”
Just then, his perfect companion came to him.
Seltor, sipping golden liquor alone, turned his head.
“Vi, you came at the perfect time. Isn’t it better to celebrate a day like this together?”
Seltor offered a seat across from him to the crown princess.
“Your Highness, alcohol is like poison for a pregnant woman.”
“Oh, dear. Lenora, I forgot. It’s just that you’re no different than before your pregnancy, so I sometimes forget.”
Lenora smiled sweetly and placed her hand on Seltor’s arm.
“It’s understandable. Today is a joyful day for you, after all.”
“So you’ve heard the news too.”
“Yes. I heard Princess Ailish is truly marrying Duke Cloveus.”
“That’s right. As you know, the princess is very fickle. That’s why His Majesty wants to settle things before she changes her mind again.”
Lenora nodded in agreement.
Princess Ailish had caused trouble more than once with her unpredictable moods.
Canceling a tea party last minute wasn’t even considered a big deal anymore.
She even skipped her engagement day with Siegfried, causing a big fuss.
It was no wonder the royal family was anxious.
Especially thinking back to the incident five years ago, it was better to send her away from the capital.
On the crown prince’s birthday, the princess had caused a huge scene.
Luckily, no one saw it, or the crown prince’s reputation would’ve been ruined.
Lenora and Seltor looked at each other, clearly remembering that day.
Seltor smiled as if telling her to forget it completely.
“The princess will be left with just one broken wing.”
Not marrying Siegfried, but Cloveus instead.
Cloveus wasn’t weak, but still—it was the position of a second wife.
Besides, who’s to say the duchess’s seat won’t change again?
Seltor’s smile grew deeper.
He raised his glass.
“For the eternal glory of the royal family. Cheers.”
* * *
Ailish and I went back the way we came.
After closing the secret passage door completely, I glanced at her.
It was strange enough that the princess knew about and used a secret passage.
But even stranger was that no one had noticed her absence—even after she had gone to the emperor’s office.
Nothing had been disturbed. The thread I had tied to the doorknob was still perfectly tight.
I untied it and unlocked the door.
I peeked into the hallway. No one was standing outside.
[Why?]
“…It’s strange. Why hasn’t anyone looked for Princess Ailish?”
[Didn’t I tell you I was a rotten apple? Don’t be surprised. Just close the door. Once it’s time for therapy, they’ll all come back.]
“How long will this therapy continue…? I think I can walk just fine now.”
I gave in to Ailish’s attempt to change the subject.
She looked me up and down.
[You can walk fine. But do you think imperial rehab is just about walking?]
“…I guess not.”
[The emperor and empress won’t stop until they think you’re ready to reenter society. After walking, there’ll be etiquette lessons, posture training, and more.]
“Ugh… I thought I already went through that when I became a duchess.”
[Wasn’t that when you were the Marquess of Nardbrown’s daughter?]
“Hmm…”
I rolled my eyes, letting out a sigh.
Honestly, my life had been different from other noble girls.
I wasn’t raised by noblewomen, but by elderly maids.
Yes, the palace had sent me tutors.
But they were greedy nobles who only wanted Nardbrown’s money.
Instead of teaching, they focused on stealing from our estate.
Since there was no noble guardian watching over me, they looked down on Nardbrown.
After that, the old butler and maids shut the gates and allowed no outsiders in.
So, I was taught by those old maids.
I still remember the shocked face of the Duchess of Cloveus when I got married.
My life had clearly changed before and after marrying Ahntrus.
[Huh?]
“I grew up as an orphan.”
I didn’t want to explain too much, so I kept it short.
[Ah… you were the ghost of Nardbrown. Imperial training will be harder and more painful.]
Ailish said it like it was nothing, smiling.
Painful?
I frowned, feeling uneasy.
“Painful…?”
[You can’t show people that you’re lacking.]
“What?”
[Rehabilitation isn’t the goal anymore, Elia.]
“Then what is?”
[Want to try it now?]
“Maybe I’ll get out of here faster that way.”
[Alright.]
I soon regretted that decision.
“Ughhh! Is this even possible?! My neck is going to break—Aaaah!”
I knew I was in trouble the moment she told me to walk with a book on my head.
This body, Princess Ailish’s thin frame, couldn’t support it, and my neck bent backward.
The book fell to the floor.
[Tsk. Can’t even do that? And you call yourself a duchess?]
“Urgh! Are you seriously saying that to someone who almost broke her neck?!”
[Tsk tsk.]
Her arrogant expression made me furious.
I clenched my teeth and forgot all politeness.
“It’s not me—it’s your body that’s the problem!”
Ailish looked at me like I was being ridiculous.
[How rude!]
“…I really don’t get it. Why are you doing this to me? I’ve balanced a small romance novel on my head before, but this is something else…”
[Maybe someone just wants to see me suffer.]
“Don’t mothers usually protect their daughters from things like this?”
[My mother?]
“Most mothers would.”
I stared at her, seeing she had gone quiet.
Then I scratched my head and dropped onto the bed.
[What are you thinking about?]
“I’m thinking about Julia.”
Hearing Ahntrus’s voice today had made me feel more emotional.
It was like reality had pulled me back in.
What if Ahntrus had truly rejected the emperor’s offer?
Even as the Duke of Cloveus, he wouldn’t have escaped the emperor’s punishment.
And I would have been separated from Julia forever.
She had been the only bright light in my life, even when everything else was falling apart.
[Julia? You’re thinking of her?]
“Yes. I keep thinking about her.”
[Not Ahntrus?]
“No. Julia. I wonder if she’s eating well, sleeping properly, if she’s asking for her mom… She cries and laughs easily—I hope she’s not hurting because of me.”
[Is that what it means to be a mom?]
“What?”
[To go to your child no matter what. To even marry a man you hate again, just to protect your child.]
“…Isn’t that what every mother would do?”
Ailish shrugged.
[Not my mother.]
* * *
“You heard that?”
“Yeah…”
“She’s definitely gone crazy, right? Talking to herself like that.”
The maids who were eavesdropping outside the princess’s room nodded at each other.
“If she does it again, we should tell the empress.”
* * *
Luisha gently touched the flower vase she was holding.
Elia had always arranged the flowers that decorated Cloveus.
But people say that if you wait patiently, your chance will come.
Just like the old saying, Luisha’s chance had finally arrived.
All her prayers and efforts were finally being answered.
Soon, Elia would die.
Because Luisha would help her find peace in death.
Luisha hummed softly.
She checked the flower vase in her arms once more and left the room.
“Where are you going?”
A maid asked rudely.
The maids in this house were always disrespectful to Luisha.
Maybe it was because she had held an awkward position in the duchy for years.
But once she became the duchess, she planned to replace them all.
Luisha responded coldly.
“I have somewhere to be. Do you have to ask about every little thing I do?”
“I just asked so I could escort you, my lady.”
Luisha glared at her.
“Are you always this rude?”
“Excuse me?”
The maid looked surprised.
Luisha pushed her back toward the closed door.
“You don’t know who I’ll become one day. What if I take the duchess’s place you all adore so much?”
“Huh…?”
Luisha raised her chin confidently.
“You should think carefully. There’s no need to stay loyal to a sinking ship.”
With that, she adjusted the flower vase and walked off gracefully.
She headed toward Ahntrus’s office.
“Ah… Ahn, are you busy right now?”
Luisha asked sweetly, sticking out her tongue playfully.
Seeing her smile, Ahntrus gestured for his aides to step back.
He meant for them to leave for now.
It was peak farming season.
They had to fix the reservoir before heavy summer rains or drought came.
They also needed to supply farming tools to the residents.
Last year’s iron production was cut in half, so tool supplies were low.
Bringing in enough tools and managing Nardbrown’s estate too—everything was a mess.
There was still so much to do before Cloveus and Nardbrown’s retainers came for discussions.
And yet, Luisha had shown up.
The aides looked annoyed as they watched her.
“What is it?” Ahntrus asked.
“Oh, don’t be so cold, Ahn. I noticed the flowers in this vase were all wilted. I came to replace them for you…”
Luisha reached for the vase, but he blocked her hand.
“Ahn…?”
“That’s enough. Your thought is appreciated.”
It was a polite rejection, cold and final.
Luisha opened her mouth to speak, then stopped.
Ahntrus had drawn a clear line.
If she crossed it, there would be no next chance.
Luisha nodded.
“I… I just meant well, Ahn. You’re not angry, are you?”
“…No.”
Luisha turned away.
Her lips trembled, and her eyes filled with bitterness.
‘Still obsessed with that ghost.’
Luisha walked out of the office.
‘I’ll need a different plan. How long is he going to keep seeing me as just a little sister?’
